What's Thanksgiving without a few good cocktails?

tiramisu martini
A tiramisu martini is just one of several options for your Thanksgiving feast! (Laurie Cataldo)
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While I'm all for having just one signature cocktail to save money, if you don't mind spending the money, I have a great Thanksgiving cocktail menu for you!

I always like starting a meal with a little sparkling wine. The only difference on Thanksgiving is adding a few ingredients to the bubbly!

Cranberry-Ginger Sparkler

Ingredients:

  • 5 oz. sparkling wine, chilled (Prosecco, Champagne, whatever you like)
  • 1 Tbls. chilled cranberry mash*, or cranberry juice cocktail
  • 1 tsp. ginger syrup** (to taste)
  • splash of fresh lime juice
  • whole cranberries, to garnish

Put the cranberry mash or cranberry juice and the bottom of a champagne flute. Add in the sparkling wine, ginger syrup, and lime. Garnish with fresh whole cranberries.

Pro tip: If you use frozen cranberries, they'll keep the drink cold without diluting it!
Mommy tip: Use sparkling apple cider instead of wine and it's totally kid-friendly!

*To make cranberry mash, you'll simply combine fresh whole cranberries with sugar, and heat until the cranberries get a little soft, then mash with a fork (to a consistency that makes you happy.) Let cool. I recommend 1/4 cup of sugar for every 3 oz. of fresh cranberries. (Yes, this is basically a thicker version of whole berry cranberry sauce.)

**For ginger simple syrup, combine 1 cup sugar, 1 cup water, and a 1 inch hunk of ginger (peeled and chopped). Heat until the sugar dissolves, and let the mixture cool before using. For thicker syrup, use less water. Adjust the amount of ginger to suit your tastes.

Apple Pie Sangria

My favorite holiday drink. It's easy to make and dangerously tasty.

White wine, caramel vodka, apple cider, optional spices, and chopped fruit. Get the recipe HERE.

Pumpkin Pie or S'mores Martini

For those who like to drink their dessert while they eat it...my pumpkin pie martini really does have pumpkin in it! Get the recipe HERE.

Had enough pumpkin? Try a S'mores martini!

Ingredients:

  • 1.5 oz marshmallow vodka
  • .5 oz. chocolate liqueur (like the one by Godiva)
  • .5 oz creme de cacao
  • .5 oz cream
  • marshmallow fluff (to garnish)
  • hot fudge sauce (to garnish)
  • graham cracker crumbs (to garnish)
  • mini marshmallows, to garnish

Rim a chilled martini glass with either the hot fudge sauce or marshmallow fluff, then coat in graham cracker crumbs. (If you're feeling super fancy, you could try to toast the fluff with a kitchen torch, but please be careful doing that with all the booze around, and obviously don't try to toast the fluff if the cocktail is already in the glass!)  Shake the vodka, liqueurs, and cream with ice, and strain into the glass. Garnish with mini marshmallows and a small sprinkle of graham cracker crumbs.

Spiked Coffee

I know in my house, all holiday dinners end with coffee. (Does everyone do that?) Whether you're joining my uncle for some Sambuca with an espresso, pouring a little amaretto in a cappuccino like Mama C., or putting Frangelico into a cup of regular coffee (or making a Tiramisu martini) like me, a little kicked up caffeine always hits the spot!

No matter what you drink this Thanksgiving, please drink responsibly, and get to and from your holiday gatherings safely! Happy Thanksgiving!

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